Businessman Des Gunewardena: Find something you enjoy and work hard at it

MEET Des Gunewardena, the man behind some of the world’s most chic hotels and restaurants.

Des Gunewardena is the man behind some of the world’s most chic hotels and restaurants

We all love spotting our favourite celebrity on the street, or perhaps hopping between the shops at Mayfair and Savile Row. But the idea of actually rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous generally stops at this fleeting moment, maybe only to be shared by fellow fans on social media. But imagine if those A-listers were your day-to-day customers...

Talented entrepreneur Des Gunewardena has carved out a successful career from the ground up, with an impressive portfolio including international eateries, hotels and some of the capital’s best-loved restaurants from Quaglino’s to Pont de la Tour. There the likes of Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne, former President Bill Clinton and even Her Majesty the Queen have been spotted dining in style.

But long before his celebrated success, Sri Lankan-born Des had dreams of his own.

“My mother ran a series of post offices but Father was the breadwinner. He was a civil engineer who designed bridges,” he says. “Sri Lankan parents push their children to become doctors, lawyers or accountants, so that’s just what I did.”

Having moved to the UK with his family at the age of seven, Des went on to study economics before qualifying as a chartered accountant at business management consultancy Ernst & Young in 1981.

Before long a full-time career came calling with the 80s tycoon Gerald Ronson and his property development company Heron International. Then, after a chance meeting with design entrepreneur Sir Terence Conran, another door opened.

“I was always interested in Terence and his design endeavours,” he says. “His work with Habitat revolutionised the style of homes in the 70s and 80s.”

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Quaglino’s has entertained the Queen

Des built up the Conran business with Terenceand in 15 years, it grew from a small design company to a famous global restaurant, hotel and design chain.

“Terence and I were very good partners,” he says. “We had very different backgrounds. I was the business guy and he was a brilliant creator.”

The company bloomed from a modest flat in Butlers Wharf on the River Thames, building on the success of the Blue Print Café and The Conran Shop.

It was a phenomenal success, but after 12 years, the pair decided to split the business.

In 2006, Des as its chairman and CEO led a buyout of the Conran restaurants and Terence kept the design and retail business.

Fast forward to 2016 and the company, D&D, now owns 36 of the most celebrated restaurants and hotels in London, Paris, Tokyo and New York, including Bluebird, 100 Wardour St and city favourite Coq d-Argent.

“You don’t design restaurants just for one crowd,” reveals Des, who lives in Wimbledon with his wife Liz and two children. “We’re known for creating and owning glamorous restaurants for everyone, and we do it because we love it.”

So, what is the ethos of a D&D restaurant? For many celebrities and well-known faces, they are simply the place to be seen.

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Le Pont de la Tour with the Blairs

Quaglino’s is the top spot to see household names. The fine-dining restaurant in St James’s was said to be the first public restaurant to host Her Majesty the Queen and has since been frequented by A-list actress Angelina Jolie and the Beckham family.

“Kanye West even did an impromptu rap set there during a fashion show,” Des recalls. Located in the heart of Soho, 100 Wardour St, once the famous Marquee Club, has a legendary music history with David Bowie and the Rolling Stones to name a few on its guest list. Nowadays you’re more likely to see Craig David, Nicole Scherzinger and even Madonna.

“We had a reputation back in the 90s for treating everyone in exactly the same way,” tells Des. “Madonna came for dinner at 5pm and we told her we weren’t open. So, she sat there until we were ready to serve.”

It’s not just chart-topping teen idols that enjoy dinner in the capital. Le Pont de la Tour shot to fame when it hosted two world leaders. “The Blairs and the Clintons had a very important dinner,” says Des. “They had bodyguards and we opened the restaurant as normal. For years afterwards, Americans would come in and request to sit at the ‘Blair and Clinton’ table.”

Along with London’s finest hangouts, D&D’s wider offering includes Crafthouse and Angelica in Leeds, Bacino and Ebisu in Copenhagen and Tokyo’s Botanica and Iconic restaurants.

To celebrate 10 glorious years of his fine-dining chain, Des and his business partner David Loewi are inviting people into a unique and star-studded society called Club D&D, bursting with perks –from exclusive party invites to international excursions with your idols. Now you can eat, drink and party at the best restaurants in town, surrounded by those very stars.

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Bill Clinton feasted at Le Pont de la Tour with the Blairs

“When you come and see us you’ll find people celebrating birthdays, doing business, enjoying a big night out or just having a lovely dinner,” says Des. “This is what we’re all about. We want to appeal to everyone.”

The Club D&D scheme is a reward card, offering members of the public the chance to rub shoulders with their favourite celebrities and get a taste of glamour with exclusive dining perks.

“You don’t have to be a queen to eat with us,” Des assures us. “We make sure that the food is great and the service is shining. That’s what restaurants are all about.”

Lucky diners who treat themselves to a meal at any D&D restaurant more than 10 times will receive the special card allowing exclusive access to celebrity parties and events.

“We want to develop a closer relationship with our customers and Club D&D is the way forward,” says Des. “It’s not a points win prizes loyalty scheme. It’s much more than that.”

Club D&D is enjoyed by about 35,000 members, some of whom have already attended exciting excursions with Des and David, from wine dinners to Ibiza parties and spectacular ski trips.

“Our recent Bluebird Club trip to Val d’Isere was with personal friends, family and a few of the Made In Chelsea crowd. We took over the mountain restaurant then skied to the village.”

If that’s not enough to whet your appetite, when D&D launch a new restaurant or food concept, club members receive an invitation to sample a specially priced menu ahead of the general public.

“When we launched German Gymnasium at King’s Cross, club members were invited to meet the chef and learn about food and wine pairing,” he says. “People have a thirst to know where their food comes from and what happens behind the scenes.”

We can expect plenty more launches to entice our taste buds; including a new restaurant in Victoria, due to open in the New Year. Meanwhile, Bluebird in Chelsea has launched with a brand-new look including custom-made chairs, ruby-red bar stools, a curved metal bar and original features paying homage to its past life as the first garage of the Bluebird Motor Company in 1923.

As business booms in Britain, Des and David have set their sights on global expansion. “We’d like to open overseas in Amsterdam and do more in New York, too,” he reveals. “We haven’t done a deal yet but Dubai are keen for us to open a Quaglino’s at the top of a tower.”

This is his dream job, he admits, and the secret to great business is an easy one, “Find something you enjoy and work hard at it,” he instructs. “Have a good idea. Be determined, trust your own judgment and execute it.

Our aim here at D&D is not only to provide good food, good service and a great night out, but also to build a close relationship with our treasured customers. Yes, it’s great fun, but I’ve had to work very hard to get here.”